Shower In, Bath Out

[allenlondon]

Small London flat. We want to convert the bathroom into a shower room.

Not hard, bit expensive, bath would need cutting in half (metal).

We never use the bath - showers only.

But... the only toilet we have is in the bathroom.

So how could we organise having the plumber/builder in for a week?

Any suggestions (given that we're both mildly disabled, old, fairly infirm, and there are no public toilets within a couple of miles!)?

A.

[retrocop]

Hire or buy a commode. The Red Cross loan certain items out for short periods and a suggested donation.

[bookbinder]

Could you move out/into a friend's/relative home for the duration?

[Barsel]

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5194258?clickSR=slp:term:commode:1:2:1

[SparklyKid]

Okay. I have done a few bathroom jobs, I always leave the toilet connected to the soil pipe. If the water supply has to be moved, albeit temporarily, it can be flushed with a bucket of water.

Has the soil pipe got to be repositioned ?
A flexible soil pipe connection to the toilet could be used during the work. Any competent plumber could ensure a make shift loo during the work.

[johnny.5]

or maybe this even
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/164091241665?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=164091241665&targetid=938697916046&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006786&poi=&;campaignid=10195652867&mkgroupid=107296310052&rlsatarget=pla-938697916046&abcId=1145987&merchantid=101743408&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj_ncl-as7AIVC6h3Ch3-EwzTEAQYAiABEgKYDfD_BwE

[AuntPollyGrey]

We've just had the exact same thing done. Your original Toilet is left in while bath and sink are taken out and any tiling done. You just have to halt work -tea and biscuits usually work -when you need to go. Then old toilet is replaced with new toilet -takes around an hour if its going in the same place - then repeat with tea and biccies when the need arises. You will not be able to shower of bath for around 3-4 days depending on how long it takes to fit the shower. New flooring can be done last of all. Our plumbers came in on the Monday and were gone Wednesday evening .

[Barsel]

johnny that seems like a good idea, but allenlondon had said they are both old, and mildly disabled so it might not be an option. The commode I recommended can be folded away and can be kept if they need it again in later years.

[AuntPollyGrey]

A commode needs emptying -who is going to do that? The Plumber?

[allenlondon]

Sound ideas, thanks.

We reckon we could do it with two commodes (wheeled?) in two different rooms. It's a question of logistics, privacy, doors, etc.

And it is only for a week. Emptying, well, I've still got good upper body strength (not a lot in the legs), so we tend to get by with such things.

We are lucky in having a very flexible plumber, who will do his best not to make our lives too difficult.

Oh, bookbinder, nearest friends/relations are several hundred miles away, so probably a bit far. Plus I've got dodgy (old) kidneys!

My old pal Ted used to say (dead now) "Don't get old, Allen. Whatever you do, don't get old."

A

[Barsel]

APG I don't know how disabled they are, but even I can empty a bucket of wee.When I had my bathroom done, I had to walk over small amounts of debris on the floor and that to me is very dangerous as I can easily fall over if I step on a small stone.

[allenlondon]

Barsel: it varies, day by day. It comes on very quickly, though. A year ago, two years, wouldn't have been a problem. Now it is.

Also, Covid doesn't help - you can't just ask anyone to pop in for ten minutes and help with something, as they might help themselves TO something.

A

[Barsel]

allenlondon I don't know if you clicked on the link I put on, but I wish I had got one of these when I had my bathroom done.I could have put it in the bedroom and put something behind the door so nobody could come in. I like the idea that it's a bucket with a handle for easy emptying and the chair folds away. Anyway whatever you decide, I hope you will find having a shower room easier than getting in and out of the bath, I know I do.

[allenlondon]

Yes I did Barsel, thanks.

[woofgang]

Allen, even with a second toilet, there will be times (hopefully brief) when you have no water. I know single use plastics are not a good thing but when I had my bath removed a couple of years ago (and years before that, the kitchen remodelled, I was so glad that I had thought to have in a stock of bottled water. Additionally (and not to scare you) but friends of mine who lived in an older house had an exciting time when some very old pipework failed when they were having a kitchen remodel and they were without water (although had drainage and could bucket flush the loo) for 24 hours. The kind plumber, once the water was off and the leak controlled, dived off to the local supermarket and came back with enough bottled water to keep them going until he could get to the suppliers the next day to get the necessary bits to effect repairs.

[allenlondon]

Thanks woofgang, that’s the sort of duck I need to get lined up before Ipress ‘start’.

[woofgang]

you are welcome :)

[barry1010]

If the loo is unusable, how are you going to empty the commode?

[allenlondon]

Well, this conversation has concentrated the mind. We shan't be getting rid of the toilet (only raising it onto a plinth) so it should be there and functioning outside plumber's working hours.

But (like I said to woofgang), these are the sort of things I need to get sorted, as it's going to hard enough without surprises!

So thanks...

A

[barry1010]

Plumbers will be used to vacating the bathroom to allow the toilet to be used, allen. Don't be shy.

[barry1010]

Just keep buckets of water handy for flushing in case the water is turned off